1863 Speke - UPPER NILE BASIN - With Large Color Map

Title: The Upper Basin of the Nile, from Inspections and Information.

Publisher: London: Royal Geographical Society, 1863.

Notes & Condition: Upon his return from Africa in 1863 after discovering the Nile Sources, Speke refused to give the Royal Geographical Society a full published account of his travels, so as to not diminish sales of his book, "Journal of the Discovery of the Source of the Nile," which appeared on 16 December 1863. Only after the appearance of the book, Speke finally provided the RGS with this report which greatly annoyed Sir Roderick Murchison. Hence, this paper is prefaced by a terse notice by the RGS referring the reader to Speke's upcoming book for more information. Explorers customarily provided the RGS with a full report of their travels which was then published in the Journal. That fact that Speke did not do so was highly unusual, especially in light of the fact the RGS had funded a large part of the expedition. Exceedingly Rare.

CAPTAIN SPEKE's Esoteric Account - WITH MAP - A Succinct Reveal of his Historic NILE SOURCE DSCOVERY!

Speke had previously made an expedition with Sir Richard Burton under the auspices of the Indian government, on which Speke was convinced that he had discovered the source of the Nile. Burton, however, disagreed and ridiculed Speke's account. Speke set off on another expedition, recounted here, in the company of Captain Grant. During the course of this expedition he not only produced further evidence for his discoveries but also met up with Sir Samuel Baker and provided him with essential information which helped Baker in his discovery of the Albert Nyanza. On his return to England he found that Burton still disagreed with him; they arranged to have a debate but on the morning of the debate, Speke, having survived all the rigours and dangers of the African bush, accidentally fatally shot himself whilst out partridge hunting.

The importance of Speke's discoveries can hardly be overestimated. In discovering the source reservoir of the Nile he succeeded in solving the problem of all ages; he and Grant were the first Europeans to cross Equatorial Eastern Africa and gained for the world a knowledge of about 500 miles of a portion of Eastern Africa previously totally unknown.

24 pages. Plus a massive color fold-out map, measuring 29 inches x 23 inches. Includes detailed longitude and latitude tables. These are original text pages and a map printed in 1863, handsomely bound in period style brown cloth over green marbled boards, titled in gilt. Near Fine condition.